From: andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk   
      
   In article ,   
   	gfretwell@aol.com writes:   
   > On Tue, 04 Aug 2015 08:03:50 -0400, Bob  wrote:   
   >   
   >>Hi Folks,   
   >>   
   >>I'm not an EE, so would really appreciate someone educating me a bit on   
   >>this.   
   >>   
   >>Trying to fix kids toy.   
   >>   
   >>Very simple electrically, just a battery going to one of those   
   >>small, cheap, probably a PM type, dc motor that does nothing but spin a   
   >>pointer.   
   >>   
   >>For some reason, they have a diode in one of the leads to the motor.   
   >>(in series with one of the leads)   
   >>   
   >>The Diode must be defective, for if I by-pass it, the motor spins just fine.   
   >>   
   >>Can't imagine why the Diode.   
   >>   
   >>Hard to believe that it is for any RF suppression due to the brushes   
   >>that are apparently on this really small dc motor ?   
   >>   
   >>Anyone have any thoughts perhaps as to for what purpose the diode   
   >>was included ?   
   >>   
   >>Thanks,   
   >>Bob   
   >   
   >  What kind of toy? Is it to keep it from spinning backward if the   
   > battery is in there backward?   
      
   or possibly to prevent it applying voltage which might destroy the   
   driver circuit if the motor is spun by hand so it operates as a   
   generator.   
      
   --   
   Andrew Gabriel   
   [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]   
      
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